Apparatus for



March 22, 1932. A. E. COLLlNS APPARATUS FOR APPLYING REENFORCING TAPESTO SEAMS Filed Oct. 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet Inueni'or.

Ari/2 urE Collms, By i//Zm @M March 22, 1932. A. E. COLLINS 1,850,706

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING REENFORCING TAPES TO SEAMS Filed Oct 23, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 2 In ueni'or:

AzZ'izurE'. Col Zz'ns,

March 22, 1932. A. E. COLLZINS 1,850,706

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING REENFORCING TAPES TO SEAMS Filed Oct. 23, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 3 7 1 45 10a. if

Inueni'o r.

Arthur E. Collins, B w W WWW March 22, 1932. co s 1,850,706

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING REENFORCING TA'PES TO SEAMS Filed Oct. 23, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Inue nior: Ani'ilur 1 Collins,

Patented :Mar. 22; 1932 arren STATES;

PATENT 1 OFFICE ARTHUR COLLINS, F C'UYAHOG-A- FALLS; OHIO, ASSIGNOR,.BYMESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE MILLER: RUBBER COMPANY, INC., 01 WILMINGTON,- DELAWARE, ACORPORA? T101105 DELAWARE I APPARATUSFOR APPLYINGREENFORCING TAPES T0SEAMS Application filed October 23, 1929. Serial No. 401,953.

My present invention relatesto ,an im+ proved means for applying areenforcing strip, tape," orribbon to the seams of'sheets, and isdesigned more particularly for applying strips or tapes of unvulcanizedrubber or rubberized material to the seams of sheet rubber articleswhich'seamsare usually made by the cut together method.

The invention aims to provide a machine or apparatus by which suchstrips may be expeditiously applied and caused to be firmly affixed orwelded to the seam. The invention further aims to provide machine whichwill be as nearly automatic a in its action as is practicable and'o'nein which the tape or strip will be automatically.

fed and accurately alined and applied.

The invention further aims to provide a machine which will be automaticin its cycle of operation but may be manually arrested at any point atthe will of the operator.

The invention further aims to provide a machine having a work supportingarm positionedfor convenient and expeditious placement of the seamedsheet, and one in which presser roll mechanism will apply and roll downthe tape or strip,dwell at the end of the rolling down operation topermit the op erator to sever the tape, and Will return to initialposition out of contact withthe work and remain at rest to enable theoperator to remove the reenforced sheet and ,replaceit with a fresh one.

With these and other objects in View, the invention includes in thenovel arrangement and combination of parts asrhereinafter describedthe.invention being defined by the appended claims. I

In the drawings wherein similar charac ters of reference apply tosimilar parts throughout: 1

V Figure 1 is a front View of the machine withthe parts in, a normalposition of rest,- and showing an article to be reenforced in place uponthe bar. I

Fig. 2is similar to Fig. 1, but showing the reenforcing' strip", anddwelling momentarily head 7.

nates a work supporting anvil member or bar, accurately machined andformed preferablywith an inverted V shape ridge onits upper edge, toreceive the article to be reenforced, said upper edge cooperating with atraveling pressure Wheel 2, which moves in a path across the. articleunder pressure to apply and weldthe reenforcing strip thereto, and islifted out of. contact upon its return movement.

The bar 1 is fixed in the grooved upper edge 3a of a forwardlyprojecting supporting bracket 3, which is fastened to a base plate 4,and this in turn is fastened to a table :or bench 5 which'may support aseries of such machines;

The pressure wheel 2 is'a female V shape, to conform to the male shapeof thebar 1 for cooperation therewith, and is journaled in the lowerend. of spring-pressed roll carrier or stem 6', which is mounted in asuitable boss 7a formed on the front of a slide or cross Tension of thespring 8* may. be" varied by'the threaded-nipple 9 adjustable in theboss 7a. 1 7

While I have shown and described the pressure Wheel and bar as of vshapc, it'will be understood that I do not limit myself to this-preciseshape.

Slide or cross-head 7 is slidably mounted on a. large main' guid e' orbracket 10 supported on the base; plate' lfandis provided" withdove-tailed. grooves 76 across its back, to engage corresponding ribs10a extending the'full length ofthe bracket '10..

Movement .to the slide or cross-head, carry: ing the pressure wheel 2,is imparted by means of a chain 11 attached totheforwardill edge of thecross-head and extending over a sprocket 12 mounted on an extension 106of the main bracket 10, and thence in a horizontal stretch to theopposite side of the bracket where it passes around a sprocket 13suitably mounted, and back to the rear edge of the cross-head 7. This inturn is driven, first in one direction, and then in the other, by atrain of spur gears 14, utilized to increase the movement of drive, froma gear sector 15, pivotally mounted on the main bracket 10. Thisgear-sector, in turn, is moved forward and back by a face cam 16provided with a properly shaped groove 16a to impart the necessarymotion to the roller 15a mounted on the sector.

The cam 16 is keyed to a sleeve 17 which is pinned to a shaft 18suitably mounted in an elongated bearing 100 of bracket 10, and havingits other end reduced to enter abearing 18b formed in the end of alignedshaft 18a journaled in bearings 19a of the housing 19 for the worm drivegearing 2021.

An automatic clutch mechanism is provided between the worm drive 20-21and the cam 16 which regulates the cycle of op erations, and thisconsists of the clutch member 22 fixed to the shaft 18a, and the movableclutch member 23 splined on the sleeve 17, which is normally pressedinto engagement with its companion by the spring 24 to be rotatedthereby. On the periphery of the clutch member 23 is positioned thecam-tooth 23a, which in the rotation of the member 23 will come aroundinto the plane of a roller 25 mounted on a pivoted arm 26, to beretracted thereby, and effect disengagement of the'clutch, to stop thecycle of operations.

The roller 25 may be pulled down from engagement with the cam-tooth 23aat the will of the operator, by movement of a foot pedal 27 connected tothe arm 26 by rod 28, to repeat the cycle of operation, but is held upto its work by counterweight 26a.

Worm 21 is carried on a shaft 29 with bearings in the gear-housing 19and this shaft is extended from one side of the housing, and has splinedthereon the slidable member 30 of a friction clutch, the other member 31of which is loosely mounted on said shaft, and has formed therewith apulley 31a driven by a. V-belt 32 from a pulley 33 fixed to the shaft 34of the motor 35, mounted on the base plate 4.

This clutch 3031 may be disengaged as required bythe operator, throughbell-crank 36 and rod connection 37 to a separate foot pedal 38, itbeing understood from the drawings that the sliding member 30 of theclutch is normally pressed into working engagement with its companion bythe spring 39.

Referring to the pressure wheel 2, it will be understood that this wheelmust exert proper pressure on the article being reenforced toeffectually weld theribbon reenforcing strip thereto, but on its returnidle movement, it is desirable to raise said pressure Wheel clear of thework. My preferred means of accomplishing this is to provide a roller 40mounted on one side of the stem 6 carrying the pressure Wheel 2 whichroller is positioned to ride along the upper edge of a rail or bar 41pivoted at one end 41a and having mounted thereon, at its other end, aroller 42 to be raised and lowered by a cooperating cam 43, fixed on thefront end of the shaft 18, and of such shape as to effect the loweringof the bar 41 on the working travel of the pressure wheel 2 across thework piece, and a raising thereof on the return or idle travel of saidwheel 2.

Associated with the presser roll is a strip or ribbon guide ofapproximately semicircular shape having its upper end located above theroll and its lower end terminating in proximity to the point of contactof the roll and work supporting bar, this guide being aflixed to theroll carrier. A strip or ribbon guide or eye 44 is placed at the rearend of the machine to one side of a vertical plane passing through thebar 1.

Suitable guards may be placed about the pressure wheel and gearing toprotect the operator.

The ribbon may be fed into the machine by special ribbon feed mechanismif desired, or from loosely piled supply trays, not shown.

As shown in Fig. 1, the parts are in normal position of rest, and thearticle to be reenforced (such as teddy pants) is placed upon the bar 1with the seam lined up on the edge of the bar. The reenforcing ribbonhas been threaded through the eyelet 44 and around guide 45 to bring itsend into proper position for application to the seam.

Now upon release of the clutch 23 by the operator, the pressure wheel 2will perform acomplete cycle of operation, first, traveling underpressure, across the work piece and applying and rolling down the stripor tape; second, dwelling momentarily at the end of this travel, topermit the operator to sever the tape manually (Fig. 2), and third,returning to normal position of rest, but with released pressure, due tothe elevated position of the bar 41 controlled by'cam 43.

During the forward movement, the slack of the tape is drawn around guide45 by which it is directed to proper position on the seam and a likeadditional amount is drawn through guide 44. On the return movement,this additional portion of tape between guides 44 and 45 drops down inthe shape of a slack loop to one side of bar 1 by reason of thelaterally displaced position of the eye 44 and on the next forwardmovement this slack portion is drawn around the guide 45 by reason ofthe application of the tape to the seam and so on until the tape isexhausted or the operator ceases operations.

During-the dwell in .the traveling movement of theroll 2-the latter israised from contact with the reenforced seam and-it is during thisperiod that the severing takes place, the operator drawing the articleforwa-rd' on support 2 to produce a slightslack in the tape and snippingthe'tape at the end the edge of'bar2 adj acentthe rear end of the seam,whereupon the above described tape applying operation is repeated.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim is:

1'. Apparatus for applying an-adhesive surface strip to a seamed sheetcomprising a fixed substantially horizontal supportmg bar, a guideadjacent the same, a slide member carried by said guide, a rollersupported by said slide member, said roller having a grooved periphery,and said bar a coacting edge of corresponding male formation, means forreciprocatingsaid slide, and means for holding said roller elevatedduring movement in one direction and depressed into contact with thework on the bar on movement in the other direction.

2. Apparatus for applying an adhesive surface strip to a seamed sheetcomprising a fixed substantially horizontal supporting bar, 7

a guide adjacent the same, a slide carried by said guide, a verticallymovable roll carrier supported by said slide,- spring means tending todepress said roll carrier, a roll carried by said roll ,carrie'r havinga grooved periphery, said supporting bar having its upper edge of maleformation to substantially correspond to the groove in the roll, meansfor reciprocating said slide member, and means for holding said rollcarrier elevated against the action of'the spring during its movement inone direction.

3. Apparatus for applying an adhesive surface strip to a seamed sheetcomprising a fixed substantially horizontal supporting bar, a guideadjacent the same, a slide carried by said guide, avertically movableroll carrier supported by said slide, spring means tending to depresssaid roll carrier, a roll carried by said roll carrier'havinga groovedperiphery, said supporting bar having its upper edge of male formationto substantially correspond to the groove inthe roll, means forreciprocating said slide member, and means for holding said roll,carrier elevated against the action of the spring during its movement inone direction comprising abutment means on the roll carrier, a railunderlying said abutment means, and means for raising and lowering saldreal in synchromsm with the reciprocation of the slide.

4. Apparatus for applying an adhesive surfacezstrip to at seamed sheetcomprising a: fixed-substantiallyhorizontalsupporting bar, a guideadjacentthe same, aslide carried by said guide, aavertically movablerollcarrier supported by'said slide, spring means tending to depress said.roll carrier, aroll carried by said roll carrier having a groovedperiphe ery, saidsupportingbar having its upperredge ofimale'formationto substantially correspond to the groove in the roll, meansfor reciprocating saidzslide member, and means for hold? ing said rollcarrier elevated against the action of the spring during its movement'inone direction comprising abutment means on said roll carrier, a railarticulated atone endito a fixed pivot'and underlying saidabutment'means, and means for raising and loweringthe opposite end ofsaid rail in synchronisnr with the movement of the slide.

5. Apparatus for applying'an adhesive surface stripto a seamedsheetcomprising ,a substantially horizontal supporting. bar and a coactingpresser-nroll, said roll having a channeledperiphery andzsaid bar asupporting edge of corresponding, male formation,

means for causing: said roll to move along said bar: in one directioninrcontact with the I work supportedon the bar, means for causing therollto move in theopposite direction outiof contact with said work, anda strip guide encircling the forward side of said roller, and. movablein unison therewith.

6. Apparatus for'applyingan adhesive surface stripto a. seamed sheetcomprising a fixed substantially horizontal supporting bar, a guideadjacentand parallel to said bar, slide carried :by' said guide, a; rollcarrier supported by said: slide, springmeans tend? ing to depress saidroll carrier,-a roll carried by said carrier'coacting with saidsupport-. ing'ban, alrailhaving one'end articulated to said slide at thefront end, anabutment. on a the roll carrier overlying; said rail,sprockets j ourna-led at opposite ends of said rollxcarrier, a chainpassing" around said sprockets and connectedlto said slide,'means forcausing said; chain to travel. alternately in opposite directions toimpart reciprocatingmovement to the slide, and means for raising andlowering the free end: of saidrail,

7 App aratus for applying an adhesive surfacestrip' to aseamed sheetcomprising a fixedxsubstantially horizontal supporting bar, a guideadjacent and parallel; to said bar, a slide carried'by. saidaguide, aroll carrier supported said slide, spring means tending to depress saidroll'carrier, a roll carriedfby said'carriercoactin'g, with saidsupporting bar, an are shaped strip guide partially encirclingsaidlroll. and having a terminal end adjacent the pointof contact of;-the roll with the-work: supportingfbar, a rail; having oneendarticulated to said slide at the front end,

' an abutment on the roll carrier overlying saidrail', sprockets journaled atzoppositeends of said roll carrier, a chain passing aroundsaid sprockets and connected to said slide, means for causing said chainto travel alternately in opposite directions to impart reciprocatingmovement to the slide, and means for raising and lowering the free endof said rail.

7 8. Apparatus for applying an adhesive surface strip to a seamed sheetcomprising a fixed substantially horizontal supporting bar, a guideadjacent and parallel to said bar, a slide carried by said guide, a rollcarrier supported by said slide, spring means tending to depress saidroll carrier, a roll carried by said carrier ooacting with saidsupporting bar, a rail having one end articulated tosaid slide at thefront end, an abutment on the roll carrier overlying said rail,sprockets journaled at opposite ends of said roll carrier, a chainpassing around said sprockets and connected to said slide, a gearconnected with one of said sprockets, an oscillating gear segmentengaging said gear, cam means for oscillating said gear segment, and cammeans for raising and lowering the free end of said rail.

9. Apparatus for applying an adhesive strip to a seamed sheet comprisinga forwardly projecting sheet supporting bar, a presser roller arrangedto travel lengthwise of the bar above the same, means for causing saidroll to travel forward in contact with the work on the bar and backwardout of contact therewith, an arc-shaped strip guide in advance of saidroller and movable therewith, and a strip guide adjacent the rear end ofsaid arm.

10. Apparatus for applying an adhesive strip to a seamed sheetcomprising a forwardly projecting sheet supporting bar, a presser rollerarranged to travel lengthwise of the bar above the same, means forcausing said roll to travel forward in contact with the work on the barand backward out of contact therewith, an arc-shaped strip guide inadvance of said roller and movable therewith, and a-strip guide adjacentthe rear end of said arm, and arranged at one side of a vertical planepassing through said arm. 7

11. Apparatus for applying a reenforcing strip to a seamed rubberarticle, said apparatus comprising a stationary ridged anvil memberadapted to align and support the article along the seam thereon, acomplimentary strip-applying roller adapted for progressive cooperationtherewith, and means for propelling said roller along said anvil.

12. Apparatus for applying a reenforcing strip to a seamed rubberarticle, said appara tus comprising a stationary ridged anvil memberadapted to align and support the article along the seam thereof, acomplementary strip-applying roller adapted for progressive cooperationtherewith, means for propelling saidroller along said anvil inengagement with the article, and means for automatically returning saidroller out of engagement with the article.

13. Apparatus as defined by claim 12 including means for determinatelyarresting movement of the roller between its forward and returnmovements.

14. Apparatus for applying a reenforcing strip to a seam of a tubularrubber article, said apparatus comprising an open-ended stationary framemember, a ridged anvil member supported thereby and adapted to extendwithin the article to support the same, a complementary strip-applyingroller adapted for progressive cooperation therewith, and means forpropelling said roller along said anvil.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ARTHUR E. COLLINS.

